Maldives in 2004

Area:

298 sq km (115 sq mi)

Population

(2004 est.): 289,000

Capital:

Male

Head of state and government:

President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom

In 2004 the very survival of Maldives was threatened by the tsunami that swept across the Indian Ocean in late December. Waves submerged many of the nation’s low-lying coral islands, at least 50 of which were either severely damaged or completely destroyed. Only a sea wall built to protect Male saved the capital city itself from catastrophic damage. Relief workers and government officials believed that the death toll would exceed 100 persons. The economic cost of the disaster was estimated at hundreds of millions of dollars, and socioeconomic development was set back “by at least two decades,” a government spokesman said.

Earlier in the year, the government of Pres. Maumoon Abdul Gayoom had faced an unprecedented challenge from political dissidents led by former minister Ibrahim Hussein Zaki, who demanded greater democratization of Maldives. This culminated in a protest by some 3,000 people in Male on August 12–13, which the government considered as an attempt to overthrow the democratic regime and disrupt the economy. President Gayoom responded by declaring an emergency and arresting many pro-democracy leaders, including Zaki and some members of the People’s Majlis (parliament) and Special Majlis. The emergency continued until October 10. It was lifted mainly under pressure from the European Union and the Maldivian Human Rights Commission.